DONALD Trump has condemned what he claims is a “left-wing cultural revolution” which wants to “wipe out our history”.
In a Fourth of July address to 7000, mainly unmasked supporters at Mount Rushmore, the President hit out at violent protests and announced a new national monument featuring “statues of great Americans.”
Speaking Friday in South Dakota, Trump used his Independence Day celebration speech at Mount Rushmore to attack the toppling of historic statues by “angry mobs”.
“Make no mistake, this left wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American revolution,” Trump said.
“Our children are taught in school to hate their own country.
“Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values and indoctrinate our children.
“Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders, deface our most sacred memorials and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities.”
His comments were met by cheers and chants of “USA” from the crowd.
In recent weeks protesters across the United States have demolished statues of mainly Confederate leaders after the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that followed.
“Many of these people have no idea why they’re doing this, but some know exactly what they’re doing,” Trump told the crowd.
“They think the American people are weak, soft and submissive.”
“But no, the American people are strong and proud and they will not allow our country and all of its values, history and culture to be taken from them.”
Trump spoke at the monument as:
- Donald Trump Jr’s partner was diagnosed with coronavirus
- Kellyanne Conway’s daughter slammed her parents on Twitter
- The officer who put Elijah McClain in a chokehold is fired
- Epstein’s lawyer backed Ghislaine Maxwell
Speaking about the famous carved mountain backdrop behind him, Trump called Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and George Washington “the greatest Americans who ever lived.”
“This monument will never be desecrated,” he said. “These heroes will never be disgraced. Their legacy will never, ever be destroyed.
“Their achievements will never be forgotten.
“And Mount Rushmore will stand forever as an eternal tribute to our forefathers and our freedom.”
The President also took a swipe at the calls to defund the police and the gesture of taking the knee – both heavily associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.
He said “we will never abolish the police” and “we stand tall we stand proud and we only kneel to almighty God”.
The president also announced an executive order that will place “statues of the greatest Americans to ever live” in a “vast outdoor park” called the “National Garden of American Heroes.”
Hours earlier, protesters tried to disrupt the rally by blocking the road leading to the monument.
Authorities worked to move the demonstrators, which were mostly Native Americans protesting that the state’s Black Hills that form the monument were taken from the Lakota people against treaty agreements nearly a century ago.
About 15 protesters were arrested after missing a police-imposed deadline to leave, the Associated Press reported.
Both demonstrators and attendees at the event were seen flouting social distancing guidelines and very few were wearing coronavirus masks. Trump made little mention of the coronavirus during his speech.
Hours before the event, a top Trump campaign official confirmed that Donald Trump Jr’s partner Kimberly Guilfoyle has tested positive for the infection.
However, Guilfoyle had not recently been with the president and neither has Don Jr, who tested negative for the virus, according to a person familiar with what happened.
Neither went to the event in South Dakota with Trump or traveled on Air Force One.
They are expected to drive back to the east coast to avoid contact with other people, the familiar source told the New York Times.
Sergio Gor, Chief of Staff to Trump Victory Finance committee, said: “After testing positive, Kimberly was immediately isolated to limit any exposure.
“She’s doing well, and will be retested to ensure the diagnosis is correct since she’s asymptomatic…
“…but as a precaution will cancel all upcoming events.
“Donald Trump Jr was tested negative, but as a precaution is also self isolating and is canceling all public events.”
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, South Dakota’s Republican governor, Kristi Noem, said during a recent interview that masks and social distancing won’t be required at the “large event.”
“We told those folks that have concerns that they can stay home, but those who want to come and join us, we’ll be giving out free face masks, if they choose to wear one.”
“But we will not be social distancing,” Noem said. “Every one of them has the opportunity to make a decision that they’re comfortable with.”
According to Recreation.gov, tickets for the event were given out through a lottery system and seats were broken up into two sections.
Those who are seated “in the amphitheater area or on the Grand View Terrace” may be subject to health screening requirements, the website said.
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The second area will require visitors to provide their own seating.
While the fireworks and entertainment were capped at 7,500 tickets, on normal days — before the coronavirus outbreak — roughly 28,000 to 32,000 people would visit the national memorial in a 10-hour period, CNN reported.
As of Friday evening, South Dakota has almost 7,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.